Heeeeyy!! I have something new I want to share with you all! If you’ve been following my blog, you’ll know that I feature other curly girls from around the world, Girls Behind the Curl, and they share their hair regimen, fav products, tips, etc.
Well, I wanted to dig a bit deeper. I am always trying out new products and finding small companies (and large ones too!) that create some wonderful products! I am always intrigued with what goes on behind the scenes, like the creation process, what inspires them to create their products, why they choose certain ingredients, etc., just basically hear what they have to say about their products! I’ve found that most small companies are more caring and passionate about their customers and products. They’re really out to help us love and embrace our God-given curls!
I know us naturalistas rely heavily on bloggers and product reviews but I thought, why not hear it directly from the creators of these products themselves! Who would know more about the products than the minds who created them? Sooo I figured it would be awesome to get to know more about the companies behind the curls! (<—I call it the “sister” series to the Girl Behind the Curl series! :o))
I was kind of nervous about starting this series because it can sometimes be intimidating, taking the chance to see if the owners are willing to take the time out of their schedule to answer my questions but then I remind myself, hey, they are people just like you and me :o) Luckily, I have reached out to a few owners and have gotten responses so I am SOO excited to share these wonderful minds behind some of my fav products!
Oh and the questions I came up to ask the owners, are just some of the things I wanted to know, if there’s anything in particular you would like me to ask them, shoot me an email or leave a comment soI can include them for future features!
So with that said, kicking off my new Company Behind the Curl series, I would like to introduce Milele of The Gud Stuff! The Gud Stuff creates AMAZING shea butters and I have deemed them my #1 fav butters I have ever used. If you missed it, here is my review from last year. I also did a giveaway as well. If I ever get the chance to do another giveaway BE SURE you enter!!
Meet Milele!!
What inspired you to create your own line of natural hair care products?
All of the other products on the market were unable to maintain moisture in my hair for long periods of time; so I decided to start making my own using the best and most natural ingredients.
Do you use your own products? Which is your personal favorite and why?
Yes of course, I would never create a product that I would not personally use. My favorite Gud Stuff product is Peace of Mind. I love the soft lavender scent, it always seems to put me in good mood.
How did you overcome any hardships or challenges in your own natural hair journey?
The first thing I did was, I made up my mind that no matter who had an issue with my natural hair, be it: friends, family, co-workers, a love interest, I was NEVER going to change my hair for anyone. I feel like our natural hair is as innate and natural to our bodies as the nose we were born with, eyes, hands, feet, etc. Additionally, I made sure that I educated myself on natural hair before I did the Big Chop, and found a great stylist. All of these things made my natural hair journey fun and gave me the confidence to stick with it.
What inspired you to select the ingredients that appear in your products?
Through my research I found that they are some of the best ingredients to deeply moisturize both the hair and skin.
What styling tips do you have for any products in your line?
The Gud Stuff is a great sealant for the ends and shaft of your hair that you can use in combination with water, or your favorite light weight moisturizer. It’s also great for blow-outs, to keep the hair from breaking due to heat damage. Our products also give your hair a more voluminous feel which makes it excellent for twist-outs or when you just want to sport a fro.
What can you recommend for people experiencing dry hair?
Never underestimate the power of water. Whenever I’m moisturizing my hair, I always spray a light mist of water throughout my hair. It’s great to moisturize your hair and it makes it ready to receive whatever other moisturizer you will apply next.
Also, it’s very important to protect your ends while you sleep. Use a satin pillow case if you don’t like scarfs.
What do you feel encourages overall healthy hair?
A great moisture routine, consistent trims, and then leave it alone. Less is best when it comes to natural hair. Don’t use too much heat, over-style, or over-color.
What is a frequent mistake you’ve seen naturals make?
Not getting their hair trimmed regularly. Hair should be trimmed as often as needed. Trying to hold onto dead ends to preserve length just makes the hair look unhealthy and improperly cared for. Healthy hair looks good at any length.
What advice would you give to someone who may be considering going natural?
Stick with it,. have fun with it, and rock it with confidence!
What advice would you give to someone who may be considering starting their own natural hair product line?
Always use the best ingredients.
How can we learn more about your products and get our hands on them?!
Visit our website at www.thegudstuff.com
Thank you so much Milele for allowing me to interview and feature you!
Check back for more natural hair business owner interviews through out the year! oxox
. In March 2012, I FINALLY built up the courage and just went for it!
